The Story Behind the Artwork

The Redbud Holds Her began with memory—of Bonnie, and of the small details that remain long after a moment has passed. I wanted the piece to feel less like a literal portrait of memory and more like the way memory actually behaves: vivid in places, softened in others, and held together by color, atmosphere, and association.

The dimensional fiber comes from Daisy, an Angora goat whose mohair carries its own history and connection to the animals who have shaped my work. I integrated that fiber into the painted surface so the material is not simply decoration; it becomes part of the story itself.

The redbud forms, saturated violets, and warm orange ground create a sense of holding and emergence—something remembered, still present, but not entirely fixed.